The Chosen Heir (The Bolles Dynasty Book 3) (19 page)

“You are so open.” He kissed her inner thigh and smiled at her. Her body was humming with excitement.

He continued a slow exploration of her body and she touched his chest and moved her hand down to his erection. He closed his hand over hers and guided her into a slow rhythm.
 

She moved restlessly against him and he positioned himself over her and plunged deeply inside. She could feel pleasure building through her entire body and encouraged each thrust. He captured her nipple with his fingers and she exploded into another release. With one final thrust, he joined her. They lay entwined together, letting their breathing return to normal for several minutes before he got up to discard the condom.
 

Coming back to bed, he said, “I need you.”

She luxuriated in the touch of his embrace and kissed him with all of the desire she was feeling. He pulled her on top of him. She straddled him and responded to his encouragement.

Hours later, she located her clothing and pulled on her jeans and shirt. Her body was stiff from the last few hours of intense exercise. He dressed and insisted on driving her home.

“I can catch the bus. My flat is near a convenient stop.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. “I want to take you home.”

They silently left the house. He took his silver Audi and drove through the streets of Dublin at close to three o’clock in the morning.
 

Glancing out the window, she tried to make sense of her emotions. Her reaction to him was more than physical. She craved a connection to him and could feel herself falling in love with him. Her steadfast determination to keep their involvement a secret shamed her. Maybe it was because it hurt him in some way? He didn’t want to hide what was unfolding between them, but she had insisted. Was it his father and all the torrid secrets that he’d kept that had caused his son to want honesty? Certainly he could see it would only hurt her if they revealed their fling? She was torn between wanting to protect her reputation and wanting to be proud of her relationship with him.
 

Her head began to pound and she rubbed her temples.

William pulled up near her building. “Are you feeling all right?”

She nodded. “I’m tired. It’s late.”

Opening the door, she climbed out and waited for him on the sidewalk. “You don’t have to walk me up.”

He pulled her into his arms. “Goodnight, love. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

She hugged him tightly and then kissed him briefly on the lips.

“Goodnight.” She walked the few steps to her building and turned when she unlocked the door and saw him watching her pensively. She smiled and stepped inside and ran up the stairs. What was he thinking? Was he surprised by the way the evening unfolded? She should feel regretful, but she didn’t in the least.

Chapter 9

William watched Bridget interact with the staff on the small, private plane. She had a friendly demeanor that drew others in. He was getting to understand her on many levels but preferred the easiness of their relationship when they were alone. In public, he had to be careful not to let down his guard and become too familiar with her. Despite her passionate declaration that she was willing to acknowledge their relationship, in the light of day she continued to insist that they maintain their privacy. Their visit to New York was going to make that difficult. But they had agreed that they would tell their closest friends and family.

It would be impossible to keep a strictly business-only facade at the gala tomorrow evening. The New York social circle looked for gossip and would link their names together. Maybe it would force the issue between them.
   

The flight attendant disappeared into the front compartment, leaving them alone.

He closed his laptop. “Beyond going to the gala and working in the hotel suite, have you made any plans for the three days?”

She gave him a searching look. “I scheduled a few appointments with top clients of Breen. I’m hoping to get a sense of how their brand is perceived in New York and if there is any feedback for the company.”

He laced his fingers through hers. “I’d like you to join me for dinner each evening. The first is with a few friends and the night after the gala is a few business associates.”

She nodded before glancing back at her laptop. “Do you spend much time in New York?”

 
“I grew up in New York City but haven’t lived there since I was a child. My mother still lives there.” He stretched out his legs.

 
“She must miss you. You are her only child?” Bridget looked at him.

He took a sip of espresso. “She has her own life and I see her a few times a year.”

Glancing back at her laptop, she said, “That is a rather evasive answer.”

He formed his hands into a steeple. “My mother isn’t the warm, sentimental type. She is organizing the gala that we are attending tomorrow night so you’ll meet her and can form your own opinion.”

***

Bridget thought about Diane Bolles. She had looked the socialite up in the media and she was reported to be quite a livewire. She took part in different charity work and was photographed often among the elite New York social world. Would Diane welcome her or simply ignore her? Normally people who traveled in those elite social circles cared about social standing and wealth. Bridget could claim neither.

William met her gaze. “Have you been to New York before?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve never been. I’m rather excited. There are so many fashion houses and boutiques. I’ll be able to see how Olivia’s designs are showcased.”
 

He smiled at her. “We can do whatever you like. Take in a show, walk in Central Park or go see the fashion houses.”

A warmth spread throughout her core. “You are willing to do that? Aren’t you the person who said that women may wear a baseball cap as far as you’re concerned?”
 

“I’ve been corrected. By both you and Olivia.”

“Now you own a hat company.”

It was a risk coming to New York. If she were honest, she agreed to come along for personal reasons. She would visit a few customers for Breen, but those interactions could have taken place over the phone. She wanted to escape with William. They had to be careful in Dublin, but New York would give them much more freedom.
 

“I have the marketing plan nearly complete for Breen. Can I show you?”

William turned towards her. “Absolutely.”

“With your blessing, I’ll send it off to the management team.”

Opening the file on her laptop, she positioned the screen so he could see and began to discuss the various elements.
 

She glanced at him and noticed he was watching her, not the presentation. “Have I lost your interest?”

“Definitely not.”
 
He touched her thigh and moved his hand under her skirt.
 

She let out a playful shriek and tried to push his hand away. “We can’t, William.”
 

“We are alone, love.” He traced small circles on her leg.

She held his hand still. “There are crew members that could walk through the cabin.”

She undid her seatbelt. “I’m going to use the bathroom. Can you glance through the document?”

Standing up, there was a moment of turbulence and William pulled her into his lap. He was a potent combination of playfulness and intensity. He captured her mouth and she kissed him back. Deciding to push his boundaries, she began to unbutton his shirt between kisses.
 

He stopped her. “Enough. You were right.”

She untangled herself from him and headed to the bathroom. It was crazy how happy she felt. Did he feel the same?

The plane landed and a limousine was waiting to take them to the Four Seasons New York. William answered a few calls en route and spoke about different investment opportunities with Alex.
   

William ended his call and said, “Olivia and Fionn are in New York. Apparently they are coming to the gala tomorrow night. It was a charity my father was involved in and for the last few years my mother has continued to support it.”

She placed a hand over her chest and could feel her heart racing. Olivia would guess that she had something going on with William.

“It’s going to be an issue for us.” She worried that others would judge her for leaping into a fling with her handsome boss.

“We can refuse to answer specific questions and hope that my family doesn’t ask too many. But it will come out.”

She nodded. “It was naive of me to think that we could keep it under wraps. It’s fine. I’m not ashamed of the relationship, but we will have to figure the professional complexities.”

“I took on the Breen Hat Company because you had promised to run it. I don’t see that changing. Whatever happens between us will have no impact on that.”

Things had a way of working out, didn’t they? At least she hoped it would work out. She had used the lucrative sign-on bonus to buy her father a small cottage. But instead of focusing solely on work, she had allowed herself to be drawn into a dream. She thought about her safe, predictable life back in London and how she tried to refuse Olivia’s offer.

“What do you think will happen with us?”

“Do you mean after marriage and three kids?”

She inwardly cringed. Why would she ask him about the future? They had barely started dating and she had no idea what she wanted in the future.

“Just three?”
 

The driver pulled up to the hotel and helped them with the luggage. Walking into the opulent foyer, her nerves became heightened.

“William, dear.” A striking blond woman in her late fifties approached them. Bridget recognized Diane Bolles.

His mother embraced him and said, “I can see you decided to bring a companion.”

“Mother, this is Bridget North. She oversees one of my companies in Dublin.”

Bridget held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bolles.”

Diane ignored her outstretched hand and focused her attention on William. “Dublin is a horrible place. You can barely get a decent cup of coffee. Let alone any art or culture.”

The woman was unbelievable. She let her hand fall and straightened her posture. “I don’t know if that is accurate. I grew up in Dublin.”

“Poor darling.” The woman gave her a pitiful look. Could his mother be any more offensive?

Diane spoke directly to William. “Why don’t you put away your things and join me at the bar?”

William placed his arm around her shoulders. “Not tonight, I’m afraid. Bridget and I have plans, but I can meet for lunch tomorrow?”

Bridget didn’t look at Diane. She could only imagine how much spite and resentment the woman would be directing towards her.

“I’m too busy to meet you for lunch. I’ll see you at the event.” Diane walked off without another word.

William led Bridget to the elevator. As the doors closed, she said, “That was unpleasant.”

“My mother is tough.”

Bridget thought about her own mother. She would give anything to be able to have lunch with her again. Why did Diane not see that demanding things from her only son would not work? Why didn’t she make time to see him tomorrow?

Stepping inside the suite one level down from the penthouse, William pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry you had to deal with her.”

Moving out of his arms, she walked into the spacious well-appointed main room. The furnishings were all in muted shades of grey and reminded her of opulence and luxury. She ran her hand over the soft linen covering the sofa. “I’m fine. I didn’t expect her to like me. I can only imagine she would choose someone else for her only son.”

William crossed his arms. “Do you mean would she prefer that I date a member of the New York upper class instead of a working class girl from Dublin?”

His bluntness surprised her. “I know the answer and so do you.”

He took off his suit jacket and removed his tie. “It doesn’t matter to me what she thinks of my life. I’ve no intention of following in her footsteps. Instead of finding a suitable match, someone she loved, she married the name. That choice has not served her well or brought her any real happiness.”